Back surgery set to force Kieran Read out of opening two months of Super Rugby

  • 13/12/2017
Read will need an estimated four months of recovery time after surgery.
Read will need an estimated four months of recovery time after surgery. Photo credit: Getty

All Blacks captain Kieran Read will miss at least two months of next season's Super Rugby competition as he recovers from back surgery.

Read will go under the knife on Saturday to have a prolapsed lumbar disc repaired and is expected to be on the shelf for four months while he recovers.

"He has been reviewed by both the All Blacks and Crusaders medical teams, as well as a back specialist, who will continue to monitor his recovery," the Crusaders said in a statement.

 

The injury was suffered at the tail-end of the international season, causing him discomfort throughout the annual European tour and ultimately ruling him out of the final Test of the trip against Wales.

The 32-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to quell concerns.

"Lucky there's a big summer of cricket coming up as I will be spending plenty of time here over the next few weeks," he wrote in a post to his Facebook page.

"Head in for surgery on a disc in my back on Saturday which I injured at the end of the season. Hopefully I don't miss too much of the start of the @superrugby season."

The Crusaders open their 2018 campaign against the Chiefs on February 24.

Newshub.